Before you walk

Trail logistics & safety

How catering, porterage, fitness and safety work on the trail, in a 100% malaria-free Big 5 reserve.

A male lion resting in the Rooiberg bushveld, a Big 5 environment walked on foot with two experienced trail guides.

Catering

Self-catered or fully catered

For un-catered groups you bring your own food and drinks; we move them. Your provisions and bags travel between lodges each day, kept cool and dry, and every lodge has staff to help with kitchen prep, cooking, the barbeque, and washing up.

Prefer not to plan meals? For catered groups we provide a full English breakfast, a snack pack for the trail, and a full barbeque for dinner. Unfortunately, due to logistical limitations, we have a fixed typical safari menu and are not able to accommodate special dietary requirements.

Self-catered or catered, your choice, on any start date. On a shared departure date, whichever catering option the first booking on that date chose is what everyone joining gets.

The lodges

Every lodge, one standard

Each of the three private lodges is fully equipped to the same premium standard: bedding, pool, equipped kitchen, barbeque, free ice, wood and WiFi. You carry only a daypack, and everything you need is waiting when you arrive.

Safety

Two experienced trail guides, the whole way.

Two experienced trail guides are with you at all times. This is the Two-Man Rule, the standard for tracking on foot in a Big 5 reserve. The reserve is also 100% malaria-free.

Grading & fitness

Moderate to challenging

You cover about 15 to 20 km a day, roughly 55 km in total, over mountain ascents, rocky kloofs and rugged ravine terrain. You need a good level of hiking fitness. Vehicle transfers can be arranged with your trail guide if any guest wants to shorten their walk on any day.

Food & provisions

Stocking up before you arrive

Groceries and supplies can be pre-ordered before arrival. The closest fully-stocked supermarket and liquor store is Checkers Bela Bela, at the Bela Mall off the N1, about 80 km from us.

Please note

Grocery orders and deliveries are strictly between you and Checkers; we cannot manage them on your behalf.

Transfers & transport

Getting here

If you require a transfer, we recommend EZ Shuttle, a local operator that knows the routes and access points to reach us.

Book a transfer with EZ Shuttle

Arrange your pick-up times, vehicle and rates with them directly, before your trip. The destination point is the reserve access gate. Rooiberg Wander reception is 2 km from the gate. Prior to your trip, please contact us via WhatsApp for gate access codes.

View the reserve access gate on Google Maps

Please note

All transport arrangements, bookings, payments and itineraries are strictly between you and EZ Shuttle. Rooiberg Wander operates independently of all transit providers and takes no responsibility for scheduling, delays, vehicle safety, service quality, cancellations, or any incident on your way to or from the trail.

What to pack

What to pack for a slackpacking trail

You walk with a light daypack while the rest of your luggage travels ahead to the next lodge. Pack for warm days and cool mornings in the Waterberg, in neutral colours for the game areas.

  • Walking shoes
  • Layered clothing for winter
  • Light raincoat for summer
  • Vaseline
  • Duct tape for blisters
  • Sun protection
  • Hat
  • Insect repellant
  • A daypack
  • 2-litre water bottles
  • A headlamp
  • Personal medication
  • Neutral colours for the game areas

When to walk

When to walk: the seasons of the Rooiberg Wander

Because the trail winds through high mountain ridges, deep rocky kloofs and open savanna plains, your walking experience changes with the season. The region is 100% malaria-free year-round, so it is safe to walk in any season.

May to August

Autumn & Winter: The Prime Walking Window

This is widely considered the best season for long-distance wilderness tracking in the Limpopo bushveld.

Climate
Expect crisp mornings, often dropping to a refreshing 3°C to 10°C, that clear into mild, cloudless days averaging around 20°C to 24°C.
The experience
The winter bush is thin, dry and gold, with maximum visibility for tracking wildlife on foot. As surface water dries up, animals gather around the permanent waterholes and river systems, so game viewing is predictable and rewarding.
What to pack
A solid layered clothing system. Bring a warm beanie and a fleece for the early-morning briefings at Temminck's Lodge, then shed layers as the day warms up.

September to October

Spring: The Great Awakening

The shoulder months are a unique, transitional window for seasoned bush walkers.

Climate
Temperatures climb quickly, with midday highs of 28°C to 34°C. The air is dry and the sun is intense.
The experience
This is the peak dry season, but we do experience occasional showers. The landscape is starting to green, and the bush reveals its survival strategies: many indigenous trees flower before the first rains, and wildlife activity around the remaining waterpoints is at its highest.
What to pack
High-factor sun protection, a wide-brimmed hat, and extra water-carrying capacity in your daypack.

November to April

Summer: The Green Season

A spectacular transformation for those who love lush biodiversity, birding and dramatic skies.

Climate
True summer conditions, with midday temperatures often around 30°C to 35°C and medium to low humidity. Late-afternoon thunderstorms are common, bringing dramatic light and quick relief from the heat.
The experience
The green season brings dense vegetation, flowing streams and newborn animals, and the bushveld turns a vivid emerald green. The thick foliage makes tracking large mammals harder, but the birdlife is spectacular as migratory species arrive in their thousands.
What to pack
Lightweight, breathable, moisture-wicking walking clothing and reliable waterproof gear for afternoon showers.

Frequently asked questions

What is slackpacking?

Slackpacking is multi-day hiking without a heavy pack. You walk the trail while your luggage and food are carried ahead. On Rooiberg Wander, support vehicles move everything between lodges each day, kept cool and dry, so you walk with only a daypack.

What are the conservation levies?

Included in your package are conservation levies of 18% of your booking fee, payable to RoiSan Reserve NPC, the manager of the reserve, which allocates monies to the maintenance and protection of the ecosystem and wildlife.

Where is the trail and how do I get there?

The trail is near Rooiberg in Limpopo (the Waterberg), in the Groenkop and Elandsberg mountains, about 2.5 hours from OR Tambo International Airport. You drive to Temminck's Lodge and leave your car in secure on-site parking for the trail.

Is the area malaria-free?

Yes. The reserve is 100% malaria-free.

How fit do I need to be?

The trail is graded moderate to challenging: mountain ascents, rocky kloofs and rugged ravine terrain over about 15 to 20 km a day. You need a good level of hiking fitness.

How far do you walk each day?

Between 15 and 20 km on each of the three walking days, about 55 km in total. There is no scheduled walking on the arrival day. You can arrange a vehicle transfer with your trail guide to shorten your walk on any day.

Is a walking safari in a Big 5 reserve safe?

Yes. Two qualified trail guides are with you at all times under the Two-Man Rule, the standard for tracking on foot in a Big 5 reserve. Walking in Big 5 territory carries risk, but your two guides are trained to read the terrain and animal behaviour, and will adjust your route and pace throughout the walk.

Who carries the luggage and food?

You do not. Your food and bags are moved between lodges daily and kept cool and dry, and staff at each lodge help with kitchen prep, cooking, the barbeque and the washing-up.

What are the lodges like?

Each of the three lodges accommodates guests in 2 person suites, includes bedding, has a swimming pool, a fully equipped kitchen with a fridge, ice machine, wood, barbeque facilities, safe drinking water and free WiFi. Each has its own character.

How big is the group?

Up to 8 guests, either way. Book a Wednesday or Thursday exclusive departure for exactly 8, with the trail and each lodge to yourselves, or join a shared departure on any other day, where the first booking needs 4 or more people and later bookings can top up to 8 in total.

Where can I stay before or after my visit?

If you wish to extend your trip, we recommend babirwa.com on the western side of RoiSan Reserve, or Letamo at Qwabi , 5 km north of us.